Understanding Blocking Fouls in End-of-Game Scenarios

This training video focuses on how to properly officiate a challenging end-of-game situation, particularly regarding blocking fouls. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the role of the Lead official and the implications of the Restricted Area (RA) on foul calls. Specifically, it details how the Lead should approach a drive to the basket involving a secondary defender, stressing that even if a defender is within the RA, any illegal contact made by the defender should still be called as a blocking foul. The video warns against misinterpreting the RA's influence on foul determination and clarifies that a proper call must be made regardless of the defender's position relative to the RA, ensuring that officials maintain consistency and accuracy in their decisions during crucial game moments.

Play BreakDown

End of game situation in a tight game, everyone must have an opinion! Drive to the basket that involves a secondary defender, this is Leads play all the way. It is a clear blocking foul on White #0. The Lead should avoid pointing to the RA on this specific play because the defender White #0 makes illegal contact with the offensive player regardless of being in the RA. By pointing to the RA, we are saying that it would have been an offensive foul if the Restricted Area wasn’t involved. If at the monitor we see the defender is out of the RA, we would change the play to an offensive foul. The crew would not be able to say that he is out of the RA, but it’s a blocking foul regardless.